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"Tropecé" is a form of "tropezar", an intransitive verb which is often translated as "to trip". "Me torcí el tobillo" is a phrase which is often translated as "I twisted my ankle". Learn more about the difference between "me torcí el tobillo" and "tropecé" below.
me torcí el tobillo(
meh
tohr
-
see
ehl
toh
-
bee
-
yoh
)A phrase is a group of words commonly used together (e.g., once upon a time).
1. (general)
a. I twisted my ankle
Me torcí el tobillo bajando las escaleras.I twisted my ankle coming down the stairs.
b. I sprained my ankle
Tuve que volver a casa cojeando porque me torcí el tobillo jugando básquetbol.I had to limp home because I sprained my ankle playing basketball.
tropezar(
troh
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peh
-
sahr
)An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
b. to stumble
Tropecé y caí en la piscina con toda la ropa puesta.I stumbled and fell into the pool with all of my clothes on.
tropezarse
A reciprocal verb is a verb that indicates that two or more subjects perform an action on each other (e.g., Ellos se abrazan.).
2. (to meet)
a. to run into
Siempre nos tropezamos en el supermercado.We always run into each other at the supermarket.
